What stands out worked out from the figures below

Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Essex Junction	Hanover
People
Population	10,803Lowest	11,685Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±3.1Highest about the U.S. average	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Essex Junction and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanover and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S.	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,500±$20kLowest 22% above U.S.	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,544±$135Lowest 9% above U.S.	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,797Lowest 118% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.3%±14.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	20 minHighest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#14 of 70 in VT	#1 of 120 in NH
School district	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	Essex High School	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.